Highlights MAY 2015 How this picture is helping to lure Dutch medics to Highland BID TO RECRUIT DOCTORS IN THE NETHERLANDS: SEE PAGE 8 MEMO TO STAFF: Spare a second or two to thank our Good Samaritans It’s (thank our) Volunteers Week ICTURED at the By Tom Davison International Communications manager P N u rs e s D a y THANK YOU! stand in Raigmore That’s the message Hospital are the assis- to the dozens of tant nurse manager for medicine, Brendan For- good people who man, and bereavement volunteer their ser- officer Claire McCall. vices to make The stand included things better for art work from Inshes NHS Highland’s pa- Primary School, Inver- tients and service ness, depicting what users. they think a nurse National Volun- does ... a great job! teers’ Week runs Members of staff from 1st-7th June, and were asked to vote for NHS Highland direc- their favourite picture tor of adult care Jan and the winners will be announced in a future Baird sees it as an issue of Highlights. Continued on page 2 - - Thanks to NHS Highland’s volunteers Continued from front page George Beange ideal opportunity to praise the (right) honoured many Good Samaritans who give up their times to help others. his pledge to his She explained: “I know many late wife by doing people who do voluntary work with us may not read Highlights, voluntary work. so won’t read my personal thanks And while there to them. That’s why I’d urge our staff to make a special point of may be no such saying ‘Thank you’ to any volun- teers they meet in the course of thing as a typical the week. volunteer they “Volunteering is a great thing, not least when it involves meeting all deserve our and supporting people who may thanks, says be unwell or in challenging cir- cumstances. I’m immensely NHS Highland’s proud of our growing team of vol- director of adult unteers; they all deserve our ad- miration and thanks.” care, Jan Baird So what do these volunteers do? in a positive way. Together, they “I really enjoy it,” George said. If you work in Raigmore Hospi- represent a wide range of life and “It’s given me an interest, makes tal, you may well have come work experience.” me feel useful and has given me across volunteer patient visitors: And it’s his wide range of life the opportunity to meet lots of people who befriend patients, and work experience that 76-year people. I get something out of it, some of whom may be lonely, -old George Beange taps into in and I think the people I speak to while they’re in hospital. There his volunteering roles of mealtime do too. And I know that if I do are also volunteers who provide a helper in Raigmore’s orthopae- things like clear some space on a similar service in some of our patient’s table to make way for care homes. You may also have their meal, I’m freeing time for come across volunteer mealtime hospital staff to do other, perhaps helpers, volunteers in the NHS more important, things.” Highland chaplaincy service or It’s perhaps understandable one of our breastfeeding peer that there are some sensitivities supporters: people who give ad- about what volunteers do. No vice and moral support to breast- dics ward and patient visitor both matter what roles they fulfil, Ian feeding mums. there and in the stroke unit. McConnell points out: “No volun- And who are the volunteers? George, a retired university teers work for NHS Highland.” NHS Highland volunteer ser- technician, said that before his As he explains: “Volunteers do vice manager Ian McConnell ex- wife Norma died in 2013 she not replace members of staff in plained that there’s no such thing urged him to keep himself busy any way. But they do make a val- as a typical volunteer. by doing volunteering work. ued contribution which serves “We have a very diverse vol- George agreed, and not long af- their own needs and motivations unteering pool,” said Ian. “We ter Norma passed away he while enhancing the patient ex- have everything from young peo- phoned Raigmore to ask if the perience provided. ple who are thinking about pursu- hospital took volunteers. A chat They bring qualities that can ing a career in healthcare to older with Ian resulted in an enduring add to the services we provide people who are looking to use commitment by George to make within NHS Highland – and for their experience and spare time his services available. that they deserve our thanks.” - 2 - Just champion! CHEST Heart & Stroke Scotland much out of the befriending as he recognise their Cardiac & Respi- C&RSS volunteers does! I am really enjoying spend- ratory Support Service (C&RSS) are thanked ing time with my client as he is volunteers as Champions of the fascinating.” organisation and are celebrating for their ‘fantastic Paul Okroj, volunteering devel- the fantastic contribution these contribution’ opment manager, said: volunteers make to people who “Volunteering mobilises people to have chest and heart illness support one another making a big across the Highlands. newsletter and the befriending difference to everyone’s lives in Volunteers Week (1st-7th June) service. local communities. We really ap- is an annual celebration thanking One of the befriending volun- preciate all their hard work and volunteers for their support. The teers, Barbara McKee, has been the contribution they have made charity values the enormous con- volunteering with the C&RSS in to the charity’s success – we tribution of its Champions and will Inverness for over eight months. couldn’t do it without them!” be holding celebrations through- She said “I like meeting people June McLeod, C&RSS local co out the week. and I love the idea of helping. -ordinator, said: “It is wonderful to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland have volunteers like Barbara; her works in partnership with NHS clients think the world of her. We Highland to bring the C&RSS to are also hugely grateful to Pro- people living with a long-term fessor Stephen Leslie, consultant heart or chest condition such as cardiologist, and Mandi Smith, heart failure or COPD. For many lead heart failure nurse at NHS people, a long-term condition can Highland, for their referrals and leave them feeling isolated and Since retiring I didn’t want to sit genuine support of our service. lonely at times. The C&RSS and do nothing so I decided to To find out more about volun- helps clients overcome that feel- volunteer and I am really enjoying teering opportunities please visit ing of loneliness through, infor- it. I like the fact that I am able to www.chss.org.uk/volunteering or mation and understanding of their bring happiness into my clients call the Volunteer Enquiry Line on condition, support groups, a life, but to be honest I get as 0800 169 5139. Promoting quality of life for people in care homes FIFTEEN care homes in North Highland are taking life of older people living in care homes by support- part in the ‘My Home Life’ management and leader- ing practitioners to use different tools and different ship programme, a UK-wide initiative to promote ways of working. It encourages managers to en- quality of life for those living, dying, visiting and gage in “caring conversations” with everyone con- working in care homes. nected to the service. Residents’ needs and wishes The programme is evidenced-based, following ex- remain at the heart of the home and ‘My Home Life’ tensive research within 60 care homes which identi- recognises it is important for staff, families and visi- fied the following best practice themes: maintaining tors also to have a sense of belonging. identity; creating community; sharing decision mak- Six months into the programme, feedback from ing; managing transitions; improving health and everyone involved, including residents, has been health care; supporting good end-of-life care; keep- very positive. Managers report feeling more confi- ing the workforce fit for purpose; promoting positive dent in day-to-day work and have enjoyed working culture. in a more inclusive way, which has affected the The programme aims to improve the quality of feeling and culture of care homes. - 3 - Planned works at hospital clears government hurdle By Erin Greig NHS Highland head of estates Kevin Minnock, project director Communications manager Eric Green explained that govern- capital projects said: “This is the ment approval of the outline busi- latest phase in a three-year pro- WORK on Raigmore Hospital’s ness case for the work was an ject to upgrade Raigmore which critical care upgrade took a big important step in the process. has already seen a series of on- step forward this month with He said: “Bringing together the going improvement works being the Scottish Government ap- hospital’s critical care facilities carried out including the refur- proving the outline business will bring a whole range of bene- bishment of some of the wards case submitted by NHS High- fits for patients. Approval of the and the provision of a new, state- land. outline business case allows us of-the-art endoscopy unit. The upgrade will bring all criti- to really go forward with develop- “While current services meet cal care services, which includes ing the design of the ground and the standards required this over- the Acute Medical Assessment first floors, identifying the equip- all investment will greatly improve Unit, the Intensive Care Unit, ment that bests suits our needs the facilities and ensures that we SHDU, theatre and the admis- and allowing the project to pro- can deliver first-class healthcare sions area, into one area over gress to a more detailed stage.” in modern facilities for years to two floors.